Let’s kick off 2015 with a tasty look at what’s in season this month.

FRUIT

New arrivals for January are blood oranges, Seville oranges and forced rhubarb. All are just starting and will remain dear until volumes increase around the middle of the month.

Mangoes and paw paws from Brazil are recommended.  Lychees are South African and down in price now. Citrus is another star player, including leafy lemon, clems and satsumas.

MangoClementines

Other fruit worth a mention are pomegranates, kiwis, kumquats and sharon fruit. Fresh figs are Brazilian, too – dried figs and dates also available, along with nuts of all kinds.

KiwiFigs

Grapes are now typically South African. For soft fruit,  there are red and white currants, blackberries and blueberries. Cranberries also still here, although crying out for turkey as an accompaniment.

Strawberries do not eat well at this time of year, although we can certainly supply them – typically Egyptian.

English apples and pears remain a good choice. Braeburn are terrific this year. Cox, russet, Conference and Comice are also on offer.

VEG

brussel_sprouts1Savoy cabbage

Sprouts and their tops are a good bet. See our feature on this classic winter veg here. British caulis are on hand (including Romanesco), but supplies often from the Continent too. Cabbages and kales are all kinds are excellent, as are the full range of roots.

There are terrific British banana shallots, Chantenay carrot, Piccolo parsnips and other baby veg. Jerusalem artichokes are also in season.

For specialties, expect artichoke, celeriac, Swiss chard, white courgettes (pricey though!), black radish, salsify and more besides …

EXTRAS

 cherriesRaddichio

They are not cheap, but cherries from Chile and Argentina are eating well. From Italy, there is now the full spectrum of classy and bitter leafy veg, including raddichios, cime di rapa and puntarelle.

Wild mushrooms are plentiful enough, although note that cep is erratic and morel is more of less off the menu.

 

 

 

 

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